The Washington critic., 1887-09-27
TIE SHEPHERD WELCOME.
Contract Closed for u Magnificent Dis
t,lay nF

Contract Closed for 10 Magnificent Dis
play of Fireworks.
One OF the most brilliant and attractive
features Of the great popular demonstration
coon to be held in this city in honor of eI-
Governor Alexander X. Shepherd will be
the pyrotechnic display at various points
along the Avenue and elsewhere during the
evening. twill be In variety and extent
the Rrsndest spectacle Of the kind ever Wit
messed at the National Capital, and mark a
notable occasion in the history Of publlc
illuminations.
The contract as entered into with the Det-
willer d Street Fireworks Manufacturing
Company, 10 Dey street, New York, the
leading manufacturers OF fireworks In the
world, is for one nights display, at . cost
OF i, 800, but It is quite probable that this
sum will be Increased upon further consid-
eration. As the contract stands, however,
it calls for the nuest single nights show
ever seen in this country, with the single
exception Of the exhibition given by the
same firm at the opening OF the Brooklyn
Bridge, which involved an expense OF about
5000.
Major II. NJ. Funston, the vice. president
OF the company, who has been In the city
several days closing negotiations, left for
Charleston, 3. c., to-day. In fact he is
kept on the move pretty much all the time,
making contracts and iilling orders for his
ssmpaDy. lie assures the managers OF the
| Shepherd demonstration that the display TO
| be given here Will be one OF almost un-
| peralleled excellence and In the diversity
| OF it's attractions unsurpassed. The FIRE
| works to be produced include so repeating
| shells for salutes to be thrown from NOR
| tar, so bouquets OF rockets, 100 bombshells,
| 30 great jumbo bombshelle, l50 new style
large calibre rockets, 800 coored torches,
| 500 pounds Of tableau In flye-pound cans,
| 5000 ten-ball Roman candles, and a set
| piece representing portrait Of Governor
Shepherd.
"The bouquets OF rockets,n says Mr..
| Funston, "exploding at the height OF the
| Washington Monument In the air, are OF be.
wildering beauty, and the shells OF great
power, having all the impressive effect OF
artillery salutes; while the colored torche.
are certain to add largely to the spendor
OF the street parade. Altogether the ex-
| hibition will be one OF uncommon magnil-
cence, and In some of Its features rise to
real subimity. | have Just concluded a
big contract with the directors OF the
Piedmont Exposition for three nights at
So,OOO,bu for the one night our Washington
display will lack little OF equalling the best
night at Atlanta. We shall send our own
men to superintend the exhibition, thereby
insuring the highest degree OF success aud
avoiding all danger Of accidents. And just
say to the people of Washington that they
have in store dazzling and gorgeous spec
tacle that no man. woman or child In the
District should fail to see.'
The illuminated portrait OF Governor
Shepherd will Of course be the piece dc resist.
dnce OF this great scenic occasion, and as q
work OF art do full Justice to our honored
guest.
1t will doubtless be a memorable night,
and the committee in charge ia to be con
| graduated upon having concluded arrange
ments with a company OF such national
celebrity and entire responsibility as Major
| Funston represents. This of itself is q
| guarantee that the programme agreed upon
| will be carried out to every detail and upon
a scale second, as stated above, to no one
exhibition OF the kind ever given In the
United States.